Introspection

Currently Listening To: I'm Sorry - 2PM

It's been a really, really long time since I've blogged about just - anything. Almost a year?

Time really flies...

Sometimes I really lose track of what I'm doing...

Most of the time I'm just wondering if I'm doing the right thing?

I don't know what to think, or do lately.

Perhaps I need some changes in my life...

Damn I can't even be bothered to fix the expired images for the widget titles.

Time to get off my lazy butt and start living again.

The 2nd Law

Currently Listening To: Muse - Animals

Hello all, it's been a while since I last posted anything here.
What better way to revive my blog than by reviewing a new Muse album?


The 2nd law
Odd name for an album. The 2nd Law. And so...what is the 1st Law?
Anyway, Muse is out with their 6th studio album and as usual, they sound like they're trying to be Queen. Not that far off the mark, I think. The problem with trying to sound like another band is that you'll always sound like a wannabe. So, the end effect is a strange mixture of Radiohead + Queen and really, I don't know what else to say about it. If I just heard any of the songs on the radio or something, I would have thought that it was Radiohead instead of, well, Muse. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I guess?

Tracklist

1. Supremacy
2. Madness
3. Panic Station
4. Prelude
5. Survival
6. Follow Me
7. Animals
8. Explorers
9. Big Freeze
10. Save Me
11. Liquid State
12. The 2nd Law: Unsustainable
13. The 2nd Law: Isolated System


Overall: 7.5/10
Recommendations: Supremacy, Madness  Explorers, Liquid State.

Better than The Resistance. The previous album was like one very long, boring song so it's good that they're trying out different styles and thus there is less...similarity among the tracks. There's a touch of U2 in there somewhere, and the last two songs remind me of Linkin Park too. It's like...amalgamation. Interesting album. Don't know if it's something I'd listen to repeatedly though.

A to Z Reading Challenge (3)

Currently Listening To:

(UPDATED)

Saw this in another blog:

A to Z Reading Challenge

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.

Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.

Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

Challenge Accepted!

A: Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus trilogy) by Jonathan Stroud - Perfect, I just finished reading that a few days ago. (Completed Oct-15-11)

B: The Book of Tomorrow by Cecelia Ahern (Completed Jan-25-13)

C: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Completed Mar-20-12)

D: Drowned Ammet by Diana Wynne Jones (Completed Jan-30-12)

E: The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan (Completed May-17-12)

F: The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin (Completed Jun-16-13)

G: Golem's Eye (Bartimaeus trilogy) by Jonathan Stroud (Completed Dec-17)

H: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Completed Mar-19-12)

I: I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella (Completed Jun-1-12)

J:

K:

L: The Lady of the Rivers by Phillipa Gregory (Completed May-25-13)

M: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games Trilogy) by Suzanne Collins (Completed Apr-2-12)

N:

O:

P: Ptolemy's Gate (Bartimaeus trilogy) by Jonathan Stroud

Q:

R: The Ragwitch by Garth Nix (Completed Apr-17-12)

S: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See (Completed Apr-13-13)

T: Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella (Completed Dec-7-11)

U:

V: Virgin Earth by Phillipa Gregory

W: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin (Completed Feb-23-12)

X:

Y:

Z:

Trespassing

Currently Listening To: Adam Lambert - Shady

First of all, congratulations to Adam Lambert for getting the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 with his second album Trespassing! It has been quite a while since a non-winner got a number one album, so good job Adam!

As for the album itself, I must say I'm quite impressed. I can't decide if it's better than For Your Entertainment, but it is definitely a good album.

Tracklisting

1. Trespassing

2. Cuckoo

3. Shady

4. Never Close Our Eyes

5. Kickin In

6. Naked Love

7. Pop That Lock

8. Better Than I Know Myself

9. Broken English

10. Underneath

11. Chokehold

12. Outlaws of Love

13. Runnin

14. Take Back

15. Nirvana

Most of the songs are ballads, and surprisingly I'm not particularly bothered about that? It's a good thing though, they're nice songs and some of them are even composed by Lambert himself. A job well done indeed, I'm so proud of him! <3

Overall: 8.5/10

Recommendations: Trespassing, Never Close Our Eyes, Shady, Pop That Lock, Underneath, Outlaws of Love, Runnin

It's the End

Currently Listening To: Adam Lambert - Running

...of the 11th season of American Idol, and probably all blogging activity for this year.

Anyway, congrats  Phillip Phillips for winning American Idol. I really can't say I was his biggest fan, cos I'm not, but errr well. Whatever man, WGWG wins again. 


Was it a popularity contest? Definitely, it's actually worse this year I think.


At least he'll be having one of the better winning singles in AI history.

Yeah.

Great Singers, Bad Choices

Currently Listening To: Keane - The Starting Line

We are down to the Top 3 and honestly this year we have a very solid Top 3. Unfortunately, the actual night itself was quite underwhelming. This bunch of contestants should have wowed us all but they didn't. They really didn't. I'm not saying they were bad, I'm just saying, for that amount of talent, they should have been a lot better.

Each contestant sang three songs; Judges' Choice, their Personal Choice and also Jimmy Iovine's.

I'm afraid Jessica was the least impressive performer tonight, in terms of song choices. Three sleepy ballads. I don't know what J.Lo was thinking, she chose Mariah Carey's My All and you know what? That is one difficult song to sing. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to choose that song at all, and J.Lo chose it for Jessica. On Top 3 night. Luckily Jessica did a pretty good job with the song, without missing a single note. Sure she didn't go for that high note but I don't care as long as the song sounded good. Her own choice, Aerosmith's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing, was interesting. Sadly though, she didn't do anything interesting WITH the song. She hit -most- of the notes, but another ballad just isn't good enough. Jimmy could have done her a favour by choosing something more current, but noooo he just had to choose Jackson 5's I'll Be There. WHY?? Again, this is 2012 not 1950! Not a good choice, although vocally she was okay. The song choices really killed her chances. I'm sorry for Jessica, I hope her fans will be voting in full force.

As much as I hate to admit it, Phillip was a bit better than Jessica this week. Thanks to the song choices (except for his own). Steven's choice for him was The Four Seasons/Madcon's Beggin, and that was an excellent song choice. It suited him well and he made the song sound different rather than just singing it blindly. Was it a moment though? Hell no. Hated his own song selection, Matchbox 20's Disease. He could have and should have chosen something else. If I wanted him to stay I would have screamed but since I don't, whatever floats your boat Phil. And the third song...well, I've read a lot of rave reviews (including the judges' comments) for his rendition of Bob Seger's We Got Tonight. I don't get it though. Yeah it was a decent song choice and he sang it fair enough. But his higher register was just whack. I do value singing in tune more than connecting with a song emotionally. Nice dig there Steven, I sense some sarcasm although no one else did *shrugs* Singing in tune does matter people, how would you like it if the songs played on the radio everyday are sang out of tune? Will you still be listening? I sincerely doubt it. To me, Phil sounded like a mixture of Taylor Hicks, Chris Martin and Lee Dewyze. Not a good combination. In fact, a combination of all the voices I dislike. I'd be really surprised if he does leave tomorrow.

Joshua has been the most consistent contestant in the competition, and tonight was not different. His vocals were top notch for all three songs, and he sang every single song with a whole lot of passion and spirit. Randy picked I'd Rather Go Blind by Etta James for Joshua, and he slayed it. Hell yeah man, another standing ovation. I know that's not really a good thing, the endless standing Os, but he definitely deserved that one (I know, that wasn't a current song either but he did stand out more with it than Jess). I wasn't really into his version of Imagine, thought that he could have sang it better. Still, it beats Disease and I Don't Want to Miss a Thing for a personal song choice. And he gave a pretty good explanation for his choice. The highlight of the night for me, was Mary J. Blige's No More Drama, sang by no other than our gospel-faithful Joshua Ledet. If I were the judges, I would have given him another standing O just for the heck of it.

Overall though, I think Jessica had the least comfortable night while Joshua came out on top again. Phillip was his usual so-so self. Who should win? Joshua definitely. But will he? That I really can't answer.

And for heaven's sake Phillip fans, stop bashing Jessica. Stop calling her awful, stop elevating Phil's status to 'great singer' (HE JUST ISN'T OKAY?) and then insisting that Jessica's a lousy one - just stop it. Almost every single comment I read against Jessica was for Phillip, wtf? I don't care if you fancy his singing or song choices or whatever, but calling Jessica atrocious is just low. Guess what? I think Phillip's singing voice in general is atrocious, never mind the emotional value of the song. (Ok fine I don't actually think his singing is atrocious but you get my point!) Screw it, if Phil makes it to the Top 2, I'll be crying for Jessica. Seriously.

Strange Themes

Currently Listening To: Keane - Sea Fog

I guess they ran out of good themes? I mean, California Dreamin'? Songs I Wish I Had Written? Hmmm okay. Not very interesting themes but they have to sing something I suppose.

Now about California...yeah, it ain't much of a theme and it shows.

Hollie...well she sang Journey's Faithfully, and honestly she didn't do that good. Don't know what the judges were going on and on about. Her voice was shaky, she didn't quite hit the high notes and she seemed to lack confidence. Not a good thing for tonight, since PHILLIP PHILLIPS is still in the competition. Will Hollie survive the next theme? We shall see...

Speaking of Phillip, man that song choice was whack. Have You Ever Seen the Rain was a really strange song choice for a competition like American Idol, but since it's Phillip who cares? Vocally it wasn't half bad I suppose, and because of that he will most likely survive elimination tomorrow.

And then we have Joshua. He sang Josh (another Josh? Oooh) Groban's You Raise Me Up, the only modern song choice for this theme (what's up with the contestants, seriously? It's 2012 y'all!). He was spot on vocally, as usual but I didn't quite feel the performance. Still a lot better than Phil and Hollie though.

Jessica oh Jessica, she sang Etta James. I don't know if any Etta James fans will be voting tonight, but I sure hope so because that was one hell of a performance, with the perfect amount of sass and vocal ability. Good job Jess! THAT WAS A HOT ONE TONIGHT! Still, I'm worried. It is 2012 after all, and 2012 Etta James is not. Please vote for Jessica if you want her to win!

Phillip and Joshua's Maroon 5 duet was amusing, mostly on Phillip's part cos he sounded just...ugh.
Hollie sounded good on her Eternal Flame duet with Jessica, I thought she sounded better than Jess actually. She also sounded good on the group performance, but out of that I don't think tonight is Hollie's best night. That's bad news for her fans unless they vote their asses off for her.

On another note, why are the song choices on Idol so...old? Almost every single song selected tonight are not contemporary music. It feels dated. And old. The Voice wins on that aspect.

Moving on to Round 2, which was better than the first, for everyone.

Unfortunately for Hollie, even with that decent rendition of Bonnie Rait's I Can't Make You Love Me I don't think that was good enough. She seemed lost, and was a bit swallowed up by the stage. Beautiful song choice though, I love that song. I agree with Randy about connecting with the song, she seemed way out of her depth. Based solely on this week, I'd say that she should go home but as whole, she is much better Phillip. I'm sorry Hollie, best of luck with the voters.

As for Phillip, now that was a really intriguing song choice. I liked that song, I really did but I still think that he needs to go home. It might be a shock elimination tomorrow, who knows? Maybe Phil WILL (finally!) go home. Or maybe Jess or Josh will be the ones going home. I don't know. They don't deserve to go home, but they might. DAMN YOU VOTERS just let Phil go, k?

Although I love Jessica and I think she was excellent as usual, I'm gonna put her at 2nd place tonight. Why? Well that was one crazy vocal, I won't deny it - the only people crazy enough to sing And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going are those who can sing exceptionally well. That person is Jessica Sanchez y'all! Finally a standing ovation for someone other than Joshua. However, I don't really like the song itself so that kinda spoils the whole thing. She better not be going, or I'll be throwing my shoes at the TV screen.

And yeah, Joshua is the best tonight for me for you. He really doesn't deserve to go home, his rendition of It’s A Mans Mans Mans World was incredible. No other word can describe it. The emotional connection, the vocals - everything was just perfect. Hands down the best performance of the night for me. 15 standing Os. Beat that!

Who should go home? Phillip

Who will go home? I DON'T KNOW DAMMIT

EDIT: Results

I knew it, Hollie is gone.

Congrats to Phil, Jess and Josh anyway.

Strangeland

Currently Listening To: Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

I've been waiting for Keane's fourth studio album Strangeland for some time now, and it is finally out today - 7th May. I heard the little snippets of their tracks a few weeks ago and was quite impressed, but now that I'm done with the whole album...I don't really know how I feel about it? I mean, it's an okay album but somehow something is missing. There are a few great tracks in the album though. Personally I love Sea Fog and The Starting Line, those two songs are reminiscent of the early Keane. The rest of it is just so-so, the studio version of Disconnected is pretty awesome, and lead single Silenced by the Night is good as well. Unfortunately, the additional tracks for the Deluxe version are just...too eighties, especially The Boys. When I first saw the title, my mind immediately went to the Girls Generation song instead so yeah, not very impressed. The song itself is pretty um, unimpressive as well. Too cheesy 80s pop.

Track Listing
1. You Are Young
2. Silenced by the Night
3. Disconnected
4. Watch How You Go
5. Sovereign Light Café
6. On the Road
7. The Starting Line
8. Black Rain
9. Neon River
10. Day Will Come
11. In Your Own Time
12. Sea Fog

Additional Tracks:

13. Strangeland
14. Run with Me
15. The Boys
16. It's Not True

Overall: 7/10
Standouts: Sea Fog (beautiful song), The Starting Line, Silenced by the Night, You Are Young, Watch How You Go.


I guess the album didn't quite live up to my expectations. I was really expecting something mind-blowing, like Helplessness Blues. My favourite Keane album as of now is still Under the Iron Sea.

Now excuse me while I go listen to more MBLAQ.